Box-fastener



o. J. STILLWELL.

No. 604,922. Patentedlvray 31 1898.

- j z'dl UNITED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

I l oHAnLns J; sTILLwnLL, or WINFIELD. KANSAS" eo'X-ASTEN-ER..

Vsrr:cIrIcn'rIoN forming part of Lettere Patent No. 604,922, dated. May31, ieee.

Appneetaii tied meente 10,1897. serai No. 658,103.' (rameau.)

a citizen of the United States, residing at Wineld,in the county ofCowley and State of Kan sas, have invented a new and useful Cover-Fastener for Egg Crates, Boxes, &c., of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to improvements in cover-fasteners for egg crates,boxes, &c.

The Obj ect of the present invention is to improve the construction ofcover-fasteners'for egg crates, boxes, and analogous receptacles,

and' to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensivedevice which willbe strong and durable, adapted to enable a cover to be readily removedand quickly replaced, and capable of securely locking a cover on a boxor The invention consists in the construction and novel combinationy andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a crate provided witha cover-fastener constructed in accordance with this invention, thecover being in place. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the body of the crate,the cover being removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one end of thecover. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the catch. Figs. 5 and 6 are detailviews of the cleats of the cover and the body. Fig. 7 is a detail viewof the keeperplate. Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view of thelocking device.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

l designates a box or crate provided at each end with a horizontal cleat2, arranged ashort distance from the upper edges of the crate or box andprovided at its inner face with a central vertical recess 3, in which isarranged a keeper-plate 4, adapted to be engaged by a catch 5 of a cover6. The recess 3 is rectanguiar, and the plate 4, which is horizontal, istapering and adapted to be readily driven into the front wall of therecess. The larger end of the plate projects into the recess, forming astop to be engaged bythe catch 5, and the shape of the plate 4 enablesit to be readily driven in place and prevents it from being forcedentirely through the cleat during the use of the crate. l The cover isprovided at each end with a transverse cleat '7, secured to its lowerface and provided at the inner face with a recess 8, in which the shankof the catch 5 is se cured. The catch, which is constructed of springmetal, is bent to form a shoulder, and its lower end is disposed at aslight inclination, whereby it is adapted to engage the keeper-plateautomatically when thecover is placed on the crate. The inclined endpresents a beveled face to the keeper, and the shoulder is adapted tospring under the same to lock the cover on the crate.

VThe end of the crate is provided opposite the recess 3 with a verticalrecess 9, tapering in depth and adapted to afford space for theoperation of the catch, so that the same may be readily depressed torelease the cover. The invention has the following advantages: Thelocking device is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction.It is strong and durable and adapted to be readily applied to variousshipping crates and boxes, and it is capable of permitting a cover to bequickly yplaced on and readily removed from a crate and of securelyfastening it thereon. The tapering keeper-plate is readily mounted onthe cleat of the body of the crate, and its shape prevents it from beingforced entirely through the same in the use of the crate. By arrangingtherecess at the inner face of the cleat the latter receives andconceals the greater portion of the catch and protects the same from theweather, thereby increasing its durability.

Y Changes in the form, proportion, and minor vdetails of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrifiea 1. Ina device of the class described, the combination of a crate providedwith a tapering recess 9 extending downward from the `upper edge of thecrate at one end thereof, the cleat 2 extending across the end of thecrate and provided at its inner face with a vertical recess disposedopposite the tapering recess of the crate, the cover, the resilientcatch secured thereto and havinga lower engaging portion adapted to bedepressed into ing any of the advantages of this invention.

the recess O, and the horizontal tapering plate 4 embedded in the frontwall of the recess of the cleat from the inner side thereof, and havingits rear edge terminating short of the rear face of the cleat, saidplate being located at a point between the upper and lower faces of thecleat and having its inner or rear portion projecting from the frontWall of the recess of the cleat and engaged by the catch, substantiallyas described.

2. In a device of the class described, thc combination of a crate, ahorizontal cleat secured to the crate and provided at its inner 1 acewith a recess, the outwardly-tapering plate 4, located at a pointbetweenthe upper and lower faces of the cleat and embedded in the front Wall ofthe recess and having its inner or rear portion projecting from suchfront wall, and a catch mounted on the cover of the crate and having alower portion engaging the plate, substantially as described. Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. STILLVELL. Witnesses:

J. M. SPOON, J. E. CONKLIN.

